Pre-game notes, Montepaschi Siena

Coach Gregg Popovich said Tiago Splitter will sit after missing Wednesday’s scrimmage and the last few days of training camp with back spasms. Trainer Will Sevening expects him to return on Monday, Popovich said.

“He’s getting better,” Popovich said, “but he’s missed the beginning of training camp once again. That seems to be a habit for him.”

* With the inclusion of Virgin Islands boy Duncan, the Spurs are claiming an NBA record with eight international players: Duncan; Frenchmen Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and Nando De Colo; Argentine Manu Ginobili; Australian Patty Mills; Brazilian Tiago Splitter; and Canadian Cory Joseph.

The Spurs set another franchise mark with 13 returning players.

* Interesting to watch De Colo and Joseph working with assistant Chad Forcier on the Chris Paul move during pregame drills, in which the ball handler uses his body to wall off his defender after he’s been picked off in the screen-roll.

* Boys being boys, a handful of Spurs, including Duncan and Ginobili, spent part of their pregame preparations for tonight’s game against Montepaschi Siena enjoying a Youtube clip in the locker room of Stephen Jackson’s photo shoot from earlier this year.